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MOSCOW, September 23. /TASS/. The bodies of eight firemen, who were earlier announced missing as they were putting out a major blaze at a warehouse on the Russian capital’s east side, have been discovered, a source in the Russian Emergencies Ministry told TASS. "The bodies of eight firemen were discovered…, " the source said.

"We have been hoping until the very last minute that they were alive."

Fire extinguished

The press service of the Emergencies Ministry reported that the firefighters had extinguished a blaze at a plastics warehouse. "At 07:44, the fire was extinguished," the source said.

The ministry's spokesman said that rescuers also prevented an explosion of 30 cylinders containing household gas in the blazing warehouse for plastic goods. Firefighters also discharged 67 kg (148 pounds) of ammonium from the compressor facility.

Negligent handling of radiator

A source in the law enforcement agencies told TASS that careless handling of a radiator was what mostly likely sparked the major fire at the warehouse. "Workers in the warehouse left the radiators turned on all the time," he said.

"This might have caused the circuit to overload and spark the ensuing conflagration." Russia's Investigation Committee has opened an inquiry into the accident.